About Us

Background&History

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established
by the U.S. Congress when it passed the Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Act of 1977, Public Law (PL) 95–124. At the time of its creation,
Congress' stated purpose for NEHRP was "to reduce the risks of life
and property from future earthquakes in the United States through
the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards
reduction program." In establishing NEHRP, Congress recognized that
earthquake-related losses could be reduced through improved design
and construction methods and practices, land use controls and redevelopment,
prediction techniques and early-warning systems, coordinated emergency
preparedness plans, and public education and involvement programs.

Since NEHRP's creation, it has become the Federal government's coordinated
long-term nationwide program to reduce risks to life and property in the United
States that result from earthquakes. Since NEHRP's 1977 beginnings, Congress has
periodically reviewed and reauthorized NEHRP (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985,
1988, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2004.) While changes have occurred in program
details in some of the reauthorizations, the four basic NEHRP goals remain
unchanged:

Develop effective practices and policies for earthquake loss reduction
and accelerate their implementation.

Improve techniques for reducing earthquake vulnerabilities of facilities
and systems.

In its initial NEHRP authorization in 1977, and in subsequent
reauthorizations, Congress has recognized that several key Federal agencies can
contribute to earthquake mitigation efforts. Today, there are four primary NEHRP agencies:

Congress completed a thorough review of NEHRP, resulting
in the NEHRP Reauthorization
Act of 2004, PL 108–360, which the President
signed into law on October 25, 2004. Congress recognized that the
slow implementation of new mitigation technologies, combined with
continued widespread development in areas of high seismic risk, has
resulted in rapid, steady increases in societal vulnerabilities to
major earthquakes. Potential loss estimates for a large earthquake
in a major U.S. urban area now approach $200 billion. (Also see
Unofficial Amendment to PL 108–360 PDF 38KB.)

PL 108–360 directed that NEHRP activities be designed to develop effective
measures for earthquake hazard reduction; promote the adoption of
earthquake hazards reduction measures by government agencies, standards
and codes organizations, and others involved in planning and building
infrastructure; improve the understanding of earthquakes and their
effects through interdisciplinary research; and, develop, operate,
and maintain both the Advanced
National Seismic System (ANSS) and the George E. Brown, Jr. Network
for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES). In a major new initiative,
PL 108–360 also directed that NEHRP support development and application
of performance-based seismic design (PBSD).

PL 108–360 levied a new responsibility on NIST to establish
an Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR) that
will assess scientific and engineering trends; program effectiveness
(and consequent need for program revisions); and program management,
coordination, and implementation. NIST is working in consonance with
the other NEHRP agencies to establish this committee. Congress
specifically exempted this new committee from the requirement of Section
14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) for all such committees
to expire within two years of creation. The 2000 reauthorization of
NEHRP similarly established the Scientific
Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) to provide guidance to USGS
on its activities under NEHRP.

PL 108–360 also established the NEHRP Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC).
The committee consists of the directors of the four primary program agencies,
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). The NIST Director chairs the ICC. The ICC
oversees NEHRP planning, management, and coordination. It is further responsible
for developing and updating the NEHRP strategic plan that established goals and
priorities and a management plan that implements the strategic plan. The ICC
must also develop and submit a coordinated interagency NEHRP budget and an
annual report to Congress that ensures appropriate balance among NEHRP
activities. The April 6, 2006
ICC Meeting Summary (PDF 16KB) is available online.